House GOP leaders double down as rival Senate GOP bill moves forward

House Republican leaders are doubling down on their one-bill plan to pass President Trump’s legislative agenda, after the Senate announced it will move forward with its contrasting blueprint this week.

“We remain laser-focused on sending our bill to President Trump’s desk to secure the border, keep taxes low, restore American energy dominance, strengthen America’s military, and make government work better for all Americans,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) wrote on social platform X. “The American people gave us a mandate and we MUST deliver.”

House Republicans are looking to vote on their budget resolution as soon as next week, when the chamber returns to Washington from recess. That effort, however, could face difficulties as moderates and some conservatives voice concerns about potential spending cuts to social safety net programs, namely Medicaid.

The House GOP pushback came shortly after Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) announced that the chamber would vote on its budget resolution this week, looking to get the upper hand in the battle over which strategy Republicans will use to enact Trump’s domestic policy priorities.

The Senate is backing a two-track framework — with the first measure addressing the border and defense and the second dealing with tax cuts — while the House has been adamant about its single-bill blueprint that would include all the president’s wish list items.

Johnson took a veiled swipe at the Senate resolution, noting that the House version “implements President Trump’s FULL America First agenda, not just parts of it with promises to come back later for the rest.”

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) echoed that sentiment, writing on X: “It’s time to act on ALL of the powerful mandates the American people gave to @realDonaldTrump in November:”

“Securing the border, opening up American energy to lower costs, keeping tax rates low (including no tax on tips), strengthening our national defense, a two-year extension of the debt ceiling, and passing into law @DOGE’s identified waste in government. All of Trump’s priorities in one big, beautiful bill start moving when we pass @RepArrington’s budget,” he added. “Let’s go Make America Great Again!”

Thune’s decision to put the Senate budget resolution on the floor comes less than one week after the Budget Committee advanced the measure on a party-line vote. The legislation includes roughly $325 billion to bolster border operations, allow the execution of Trump’s deportation plans, boost defense spending and greenlight energy plans.

“It’s time to act on the decisive mandate the American people gave to President Trump in November. Securing the border, rebuilding our defense, and unleashing American energy. That starts this week with passing Chairman @LindseyGrahamSC’s budget,” Thune wrote on X. “Let’s get it done.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the chair of the Budget Committee, lauded Thune’s move, writing on X: “Taking up the budget resolution this week now puts us one step closer to the most transformational border security bill in history.”

“Time is of the essence,” he added.

Republicans on Capitol Hill are looking to use the budget reconciliation process to advance Trump’s agenda, which — if successful — would allow the party to circumvent Democratic opposition in the Senate. The first step in the process is adopting a budget resolution.

House Republicans have been adamant that they want to utilize the one-bill strategy, though they have struggled to carry out that plan at times. After facing an impasse over the depth of spending cuts, the House Budget Committee advanced a resolution along party lines last week.

Now, however, moderates — and some conservatives — are voicing concerns about potential cuts to Medicaid.

Updated at 5:06 pm EST.

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